Everyone in Venice is acting. Everyone plays a role, and the role changes. The key to understanding Venetians is rhythm- the rhythm of the lagoon, the rhythm of the water, the tides, the waves…
The rhythm in Venice is like breathing. High water, high pressure: tense. Low water, low pressure: relaxed. Venetians are not at all attuned to the rhythm of the wheel. That is for other places, places with motor vehicles. Ours is the the rhythm of the Adriatic., The rhythm of the sea. In Venice the rhythm flows along with the tide, and the tide changes every six hours.
How do you see a bridge?
Do you see a bridge as an obstacle- as just another set of steps to climb to get from one side of the canal to the other? To us bridges are transitions. We go over them very slowly. They are part of the rhythm. They are the links between two parts of the theatre, like changes in scenery, or like the progression from Act One of the play to Act Two. Our role changes as we cross over the bridges. We cross from one reality…to another. From one setting…to another setting.
Sunlight on a canal is reflected up through a window onto the ceiling, then from the ceiling onto a vase, and from a vase onto a glass, or a silver bowl. Which is the real sunlight? Which is the real reflection?
What is true? What is not true? The answer is not so simple, because the truth can change. I can change. You can change. That is the Venice effect.
- Count Girolamo Marcello -
